Mayan civilisation – KQ2 – Reasons why the Maya empire grew – When so much of the land they lived in was mountain and jungle, how did the Maya manage to become so important?

Learning objectives

• Pupils are able to offer at least 2 valid reasons for its growth e.g. Mayans knew how to grow crops like maize (slash and burn technique) and irrigate fields, and how to hunt e.g. for deer, and to trade.
• The more able grasp how many of these ideas must be speculative.
• The more able can make links with growth of Roman Empire studied earlier and with Ancient Egypt which had the Gift of the Nile whereas the Maya had to contend with jungle and mountain.